Built-under sinks

ABSTRACT

In order to produce a built-under sink for mounting on a lower surface of a work top and which comprises a mounting flange that rests against the work top in the installed state of the built-under sink such that it is mountable on the work top in a secure and space-saving manner, it is proposed that the mounting flange be provided with at least one fastener recess for the passage of at least one mechanical fastener through the mounting flange.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to built-under sinks, and more particularly, to built-under sinks for mounting on a lower surface of a work top, wherein the built-under sink comprises a mounting flange which rests against the work top in the installed state of the built-under sink.

BACKGROUND

Built-under sinks are known from the state of the art.

For the purposes of mounting the known built-under sinks on the lower surface of the work top, there is used a retaining clamp which is supported on a lower surface of the mounting flange of the built-under sink by means of a first arm and on the lower surface of the work top by means of a second arm, and it is tightened against the work top by means of a fixing screw which is screwed into a mounting hole in the lower surface of the work top, whereby the arm of the retaining clamp resting against the lower surface of the mounting flange presses the mounting flange against the lower surface of the work top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section through a built-under sink which is mounted on the lower surface of a work top,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged illustration of the region I in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view from below of a mounting flange of the built-under sink depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, as seen along the arrow 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the built-under sink depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic section through a sink assembly comprising two built-under sinks mounted on the lower surface of a work top and a mixer tap;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section corresponding to that of FIG. 2 through a second example built-under sink which is mounted on the lower surface of a work top;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view from below of a mounting flange of the built-under sink depicted in FIG. 6 as seen in the direction of the arrow 7 in FIG. 6.

Similar or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A built-under sink 100 as illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a substantially horizontal base 102 having a waste-outlet opening 104 formed therein, four side walls 106 extending substantially vertically upwards of which one is provided with an overflow opening 108, and also a mounting flange 110 which surrounds the top edges of the side walls and extends substantially horizontally outwards from these top edges.

The mounting flange 110 is provided with a plurality of fixing means recesses 112 which are mutually spaced around the periphery of the mounting flange and extend through the mounting flange 110 from a lower surface 114 of the mounting flange 110 up to an upper surface 116 of the mounting flange 110.

As can be seen from FIG. 4 for example, four such fixing means recesses 112 can be provided, these preferably being arranged in the four corner regions of the mounting flange 110.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the fixing means recesses 112 are implemented by through-holes 113 having a substantially circular cross section.

These through-holes 113 are inwardly spaced from the outer edge 118 of the mounting flange 110.

The built-under sink 100 is envisaged for mounting on the lower surface 120 of a work top 122 which comprises a cut-out 126 corresponding to the upper inlet opening 124 of the built-under sink 100 that is surrounded by the mounting flange 110. Prior to the process of mounting the built-under sink 100, the lower surface 120 of the work top 122 is provided with substantially vertically extending blind holes 128 which, in regard to the number and arrangement thereof, correspond to the fixing means recesses 112 in the mounting flange 110 of the built-under sink 100.

Into each of these blind holes 128, there is inserted a plug or a locking nut 130 which, in regard to the diameter and length thereof, is adapted to those of the appertaining blind hole 128.

For example, naturally coloured locking nuts made of a nylon material and having the dimensions 5×12 mm can be used.

Subsequently, the built-under sink 100 is placed in its mounting position on the work top 122 wherein the upper surface 116 of the basin flange 110 rests on the lower surface 120 of the work top 122 and the fixing means recesses 112 are aligned substantially coaxially with respect to the blind holes 128 in the work top 122.

Before the built-under sink 100 is placed in its mounting position, the upper surface 116 of the basin flange 110 and/or the lower surface 120 of the work top 122 can be provided with a coating 131 comprising a sealing material, and in particular, a silicone sealing compound so that, in this case, the mounting flange 110 does not rest directly on the work top 122, but rather, via the sealing coating 131.

Thereafter, a fixing means 132 in the form of a fixing screw 134 is inserted from below, with the thread in front, into the respectively associated fixing means recess 112 and the external thread thereof is screwed into the internal thread of the locking nut 130.

Hereby, prior to the introduction of the fixing screw 134 into the fixing means recess 112, a backing element 136 provided with a through-hole for the shank of the fixing screw 134 and in the form of a substantially rectangular bedplate 138 is placed on the shank of the fixing screw 134 so that, when the fixing screw 134 is screwed into the locking nut 130, the bedplate 138 is pressed against the lower surface 114 of the mounting flange 110 by the head 140 of the fixing screw 134 so that, in the installed state of the built-under sink 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the head 140 of each fixing screw 134 rests on the lower surface 114 of the mounting flange 110 via the respectively associated bedplate 138 and hence the contact force exerted by the fixing screw 134 is transferred via the bedplate 138 directly to the mounting flange 10 of the built-under sink 100.

After all the fixing screws 134 have been screwed into the locking nuts 130 in the respectively associated blind holes 128 and tightened against the lower surface 120 of the work top 122, the mounting of the built-under sink 100 on the work top 122 is accomplished.

In particular, fixing screws 134 in the form of galvanized plate screws having the dimensions 4.0×20 mm can be used.

In particular, bedplates 138 in the form of spring washers M5 in accordance with the DIN standard DIN 6796 can be used.

As an alternative thereto, provision can also be made for bedplates 138 comprising a resilient material, such as hard rubber for example, to be used.

The built-under sink 100 can be formed from any material, and in particular from a metallic material, preferably from a high-grade steel material, or from a synthetic material, from a ceramic material or from a composite material.

The fixing means recesses 112 can be formed in the mounting flange 110 at the manufacturing stage thereof or they can be produced after the production of the mounting flange 110, for example by boring or punching out the mounting flange 110.

FIG. 5 shows a complete built-under sink assembly which, in addition to a built-under sink 100 of the type described above, also comprises a second, smaller auxiliary built-under sink 100′ which likewise comprises a mounting flange 10 provided with fixing means recesses 112 and is mounted on the lower surface 120 of the work top 122 in the manner described herein.

Furthermore, the built-under sink assembly also comprises an armature, a mixer tap 143 for example, which is arranged on the upper surface 142 of the work top 122.

The work top 122 is supported by the side walls 144 of a base unit cabinet 146 for the sink assembly.

A second example built-under sink 100 for mounting on the lower surface 120 of a work top 122 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The second example differs from the previously described first example only in that the fixing means recesses 112 are not formed by through-holes 110 spaced from the outer edge 118 of the mounting flange 110 as was the case in the first example, but instead, they are in the form of slots 148 which extend through the mounting flange 110 from the lower surface 114 of the mounting flange 110 to the upper surface 116 thereof and also extend outwardly to the outer edge 118 of the mounting flange 110 and open into this edge. In the plan view as seen from below (see FIG. 7), each of these slots 148 has a substantially U-shaped cross section incorporating two lateral bounding surfaces 150 extending substantially perpendicularly inwardly from the outer edge 118 of the mounting flange 110 and a substantially semi-circularly curved bounding surface 152 at the inner end portion of the slot 148 where the fixing means 132 penetrates the slot 148.

This example offers the advantage that the position of the fixing means 132 relative to the fixing means recess 122 is not precisely fixed in the installed state of the built-under sink 100 but can be altered by a relative displacement of the built-under sink 100 relative to the fixing means 132 (or relative to the blind hole 128 in the work top 122 into which the fixing means 132 is inserted) in a direction running transverse to the outer edge 118 of the mounting flange 110 in order to be able to compensate for tolerances arising during the process of producing the fixing means recess 112 in the mounting flange 110 and/or the tolerances arising during the process of producing the blind holes 128 in the work top 122.

In all other respects, the second example illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 corresponds to that of the first example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 in regard to the construction and functioning thereof, and so, to this extent, reference is made to the preceding description.

From the foregoing, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that built-under sinks of the type mentioned above which are mountable on the work top in a secure and space-saving manner have been provided.

An illustrated built-under sink includes a mounting flange which is provided with at least one fixing means recess for the passage of a fixing means through the mounting flange.

The concept underlying this solution is thus that of permitting the fixing means used for mounting the built-under sink on the lower surface of the work top to pass directly through the mounting flange instead of arranging the fixing means laterally adjacent to but outside the mounting flange such as to be effective indirectly on the mounting flange via an additional retaining clamp.

This solution offers the advantage that the fixing means transfers the retaining force directly to the mounting flange so that an additional mounting element in the form of a retaining clamp is not necessary. In consequence, the example built-under sink is particularly easy to install.

Furthermore, particularly reliable retention of the example built-under sink on the lower surface of the work top is obtained because the retaining force of the fixing means is effective directly on the mounting flange.

Moreover, a particularly small amount of space is needed for the mounting of the example built-under sink since the fixing means is not arranged on the work top laterally adjacent to and outside the mounting flange, but rather, it penetrates the fixing means recess in the mounting flange.

Consequently, for the purposes of mounting the example built-under sink, no additional space adjacent to but outside the mounting flange is needed on the lower surface of the work top.

If the example built-under sink is built into a base unit cupboard, it can thus have larger external dimensions for a same size of base unit.

Furthermore, the illustrated built-under sink is adjustable in a particularly precise manner during the mounting thereof on the work top.

The mounting flange of the illustrated built-under sink can rest directly or indirectly on the work top in the installed state, for example, through the intermediary of a sealing element arranged therebetween.

In a preferred example, provision is made for the mounting flange to be provided with a plurality of fixing means recesses.

Hereby, provision may be made for at least one of the fixing means recesses to be in the form of a through-hole which is spaced from an outer edge of the built-under sink.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may be made for at least one of the fixing means recesses to open into an outer edge of the built-under sink.

Hereby, provision may be made, in particular, for at least one of the fixing means recesses to be in the form of a through-slot.

This formation of the fixing means recess offers the advantage that the position of the fixing means is not precisely fixed relative to the fixing means recess in the installed state of the built-under sink, but rather, it can be altered by means of a relative displacement of the built-under sink relative to the fixing means (or relative to a blind hole in the work top into which the fixing means is screwed) in a direction running transversely to the outer edge of the mounting flange in order to be able to compensate for tolerances arising during the process of producing the fixing means recess in the mounting flange and/or tolerances arising during the process of producing the blind hole in the work top.

An example combination of a built-under sink and at least one fixing means which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, extends through a fixing means recess in the built-under sink is provided.

In a preferred example, the fixing means is threaded.

In particular, the fixing means can be in the form of a fixing screw, preferably, a plate screw.

Furthermore, provision is made in a preferred example for the combination of the built-under sink and the at least one fixing means to also comprise at least one backing element via which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, the at least one fixing means rests against the mounting flange of the built-under sink.

In particular, this backing element can be in the form of a bedplate or a washer.

Furthermore, the combination may comprise at least one locking nut into which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, the at least one fixing means is inserted.

An example combination of a work top, a built-under sink for mounting on a lower surface of the work top and at least one fixing means which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, extends through a fixing means recess in the built-under sink is also provided.

The work top of this combination preferably comprises at least one blind hole which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, at least partly accommodates the fixing means.

In order to prevent liquid getting into the region below the work top through a space between the built-under sink and the work top, provision can be made for a sealing element, in particular a coating comprising a sealing compound, preferably a silicone sealing compound, which is arranged between the work top and the mounting flange of the built-under sink.

Thus, in this case, the mounting flange of the built-under sink is not directly in contact with the lower surface of the work top, but rather, indirectly via the sealing element.

In the installed state of the example built-under sink, the fixing means of the built-under sink is preferably located entirely within the vertical projection of the mounting flange of the built-under sink.

In particular, the mounting of the example built-under sink on the lower surface of the work top can be effected in that the fixing element/mechanical fastener is arranged directly on the mounting flange of the built-under sink and is pressed together with a plug into a blind hole in the lower surface of the work top, whereby the fixing element, for example a plate screw, is then screwed into the plug. Hereby, a spring washer can be arranged between the head of the fixing element, in particular the plate screw, and the mounting flange of the built-under sink.

It is noted that this patent claims priority from German utility model No. 20 2005 005 166.7 which was filed on Apr. 1, 2005, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A built-under sink for mounting on a lower surface of a work top comprising a mounting flange which rests against the work top in the installed state of the built-under sink, wherein the mounting flange is provided with at least one fastener recess for the passage of a mechanical fastener through the mounting flange.
 2. A built-under sink in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting flange is provided with a plurality of fastener recesses.
 3. A built-under sink in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the fastener recesses is a through-hole which is spaced from an outer edge of the built-under sink.
 4. A built-under sink in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the fastener recesses opens into an outer edge of the built-under sink.
 5. A built-under sink in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least one of the fastener recesses is a through-slot.
 6. A combination of a built-under sink in accordance with claim 1 and at least one mechanical fastener which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, extends through a fastener recess in the built-under sink.
 7. A combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the mechanical fastener is threaded.
 8. A combination in accordance with claim 7, wherein the mechanical fastener is a fixing screw.
 9. A combination in accordance with claim 8, wherein the mechanical fastener is a plate screw.
 10. A combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the combination comprises at least one backing element via which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, the at least one mechanical fastener bears against the mounting flange of the built-under sink.
 11. A combination in accordance with claim 10, wherein the backing element is a bedplate or a washer.
 12. A combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the combination comprises at least one locking nut into which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, the at least one mechanical fastener is screwed.
 13. A combination of a work top, a built-under sink for mounting on a lower surface of the work top in accordance with claim 1 and at least one mechanical fastener which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, extends through a fastener recess in the built-under sink.
 14. A combination in accordance with claim 13, wherein the work top comprises at least one blind hole which, in the installed state of the built-under sink, at least partially accommodates the mechanical fastener.
 15. A combination in accordance with claim 13, wherein a sealing element, in particular a coating comprising a sealing compound, preferably a silicone sealing compound, is arranged between the work top and the mounting flange of the built-under sink. 